Adjustable jig and holder



May 7, 1946. l. L. REssMAN 2,399,824

ADJUSTABLE JIG AND HOLDER Filed Aug. 9,- 1945 45 sheets-sheet 1 JTQw/ve Z. PRESS/MAA@ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 7, 1946.

L. PRI'EssMAN ADJUSTABLE J 1G AND HOLDER Filed Aug. 9, 1943 5 sheets-sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIII I Key/N6 ..PESSMAM INVENTOR.

BY l,

ATTORNEY.

May 7, 1946. l. L. PRESSMAN 2,399,824

.ADJUSTABLE J IG AND HOLDER Filed Aug. 9, 1945 5 sheets-sheer :s

w n mh Jew/ve: L. Pesas-MAN,

INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY.

l. L. PRESSMAN ADJUSTABLE J G AND HOLDER May 7, 1946.

Filed Aug. 9,- 1943 '5 sheets-sheet 4 a1 fev/Ns L.PQEssMA/\.

' INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY.

May 7, 1945- l. Vl=REssMAr\l Y 2,399,824

' ADJUSTABLE JIG AND HOLDER Filed Aug. 9,v 1943 5 sheets-sheet s fEw/vs L'. PRESS/14A N,

INVEN TOR.

ATTOR N EY.

Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE ADJUSTABLE JIG AND HOLDER Irving L. Pressman, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 9, 1943, Serial No. 497,958

` (ci. :1o-'59) Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in jigs and other holdingdevices, these jigs being particularly adapted `for use in holding irregularly shaped objects or objects having a varying contour. 'I'he invention also pertains to jigs, holders and dies whereby sheet materials may be curved, bent or formed into desired shapes and their contours duplicated by means of routers and other similar devices operating by means of pantographs or universally movable arms from a model, dummy, mockup or the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to disclose a. jig whichwlll conform to any irregular surface and which will maintain the desired seat position so that copies of such irregularly shaped surface may be made or pressed by the jig.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a jig which employs a plurality of substantially parallel holding wheels, the needles being longitudinally adjustable so that their terminal points may be caused to conform to any curved or irregularly shaped surface with which they are brought into contact.

A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a jig or die which is capable of `being used in imparting a desired conguration to pressable or deformable sheet material, the jig or die being capable of adjustment or modiiication so as to permit its use in the forming of a large variety of objects of diiferent contour.

These and other objects, advantages and adaptations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of certain exemplary forms which the present invention may take. In order to facilitate understanding, reference will be had to the appended drawingsl in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of one form of press.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along the plane II-II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of a portion of the body of one of the universal jigs employed in the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a modified construction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a needle and holder, the needle being provided with a pressing head.

Figs. 6 and 7 are a side view and a section respectively, of the lower portion of a holding needle provided with a clamping device.

Fig. 8 is a side view, partly broken away. of a duplicating machine employing the universal jigs of the present invention.

-39 retained in a holder or tubular member II, I I' Fig. 9 is a side View (with parts shown in section) showing the use of the holding needles of the present invention in holding an irregularly shaped object for milling or other machining operation.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken along the horizontal plane X-X indicated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken along the plane )Qi- XI of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a plan view, partly in section, of a C-clamp provided with a modied form of holding device.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the lower holding elements comprise body portions I and 2 provided with fluid pressure means for raising and lowering the same, such fluid pressure means. being generally indicated by the rams 3 and 4 working cylinders 5 and 6 respectively, said cylinders being provided with suitable means for admitting and discharging pressure fluid.l The cylinders 5 and 6 may be mounted upon a common base or cross head 1 which may be raised or lowered by means of the ram 8 cooperating with a hydraulic cylinder 9.

Each of the body members I and 2 is provided with a plurality of substantially parallel holding needles. In the modication illustrated in Fig. 1, the holding needles are indicated at I0, Ill and the like. Each of the holding needles is slidablv within their respective tubular members to any desired position.

In Fig. 1 a body member I' is positioned in opposing relation to the body member I and the various tubular members II and their corresponding needles I0' are in virtual axial alignment with the holding needles Ill and the tubular members II of the body portion I. The means for supplying fluid to the body members I and I may comprise'a closed conduit I2 provided with an obturating element or valve I3. As best shown in Fig. 3, each of the body members, such as the body member I', may be hollow, the tubular members II' communicating withthe interior of the body member I'. A rst body of iluid is thus trapped within the conduit I 2, the body members I and I', and the tubular members II and II. Once the needles I0 and I0 have been moved into -a desired position longitudinally of each other, the valve I3V may be closed, the further admis-` sion of iiuid to? each of the tubular members discontinued by any suitable arrangement of valves, thereby locating the needles i and Iii in their desired positions. Fig. 3 illustrates a form of valve whereby the admission of uid to all of the tubular members carried by the body portion I may be accomplished simultaneously.

As shown in Fig. 3 a spider I4 may be movably mounted within the hollow body portion I', the spider portion carrying valves I5 and the like, one of said valves being adapted to be seated upon the end of each of the tubular members I I. The spider may be guided by means of guide pins I6 extending through suitable ports in the spider Ill. An actuating stem I'I threadedly mounted in a gland I8 and provided with a knurled knob or hand wheel I9 is rotatably connected to the spider I4. Manipulation of the knob I9 may be caused to seat or unseat the various valves I5 simultaneously,

When, therefore, the needles I0 have been suitably adjusted in length, the valves I5 may be caused to close the openings between the tubular members II and the hollow body portion I, thereby rmly holding the needles in their desired position.

The upper or opposing body portions I and 2 may also be provided with means for raising and lowering the same, such as the hydraulic cylinders 5 and 6', and these in turn may be moved as by means of the crosshea-d 'I' and the hydraulic ram 9.

In Fig. l the opposing pairs of adjustable jigs are shown holding a curved sheet of metal, plastic or the like indicated at 2i). The ends of the needles may hold the sheet 20 in position for various machining operations. For example, the body portions I and 2 may be horizontally spaced one from the other so as to permit a machining operation to be performed on the curved sheet 20 at some point between the two body portions of the opposing banks oi holding needles.

Once the needles have been longitudinally adjusted so as to form to a predetermined curvature or form of object, the entire assembly may be used as a pressing or forming die. The end of each needle may, for example, be provided with a pressing block such as is illustrated in Fig. 5. As there shown, the needle Il) may be provided with a mounting or ball and seated in a suitable semicircular cavity of a press block 2 I, such press block being movably attached to the end of `the needle I0 as by means of -a ring 22 and machine screws 23. Figs. 6 and '7 show a modied form of press block, the press block being made of two adjacent sections 24 and 25 held together by means of the bolts 25 and 26', the block portions 24 and 25 forming a clamp about the end of the needle IG. It will be recognized that a universal joint connection exists between block 2I and the needle I0 so that the lower or pressing surface of the block 2| may be at any desired angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the needle I0.

Whereas the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 discloses a hollow body portion, the various tubular members II' all communicating with the one hollow body portion and being supplied with fluid therefrom, the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 show needle holders II and II attached to solid body portions I and I respectively, each pair of opposing tubular members being con` nected to a common conduit such as theconduit 2! provided with a valve 28. By this arrangement (particularly adapted for use when the object being handled by the jig is of sheet material) the needles I0 and I0 are caused to move in opposite directions and equivalent amounts so that by adjusting the needles carried by the lower body portion i so that their tips conform to a desired surface, the band ol' upper needles I is automatically adjusted to conform to the same contour. rThe valve 28 is open during the adjustment step and as soon as the valve 29 is closed each pair of opposing needles is locked in the adjusted position.

Fig. 5 illustrates on an enlarged scale a needle provided with a small keyway 2, the tubular member lI being provided with a suitable packing 30 adapted to cooperate with the keyway and at the same time restrain leakage of fluid from the tubular member II.

Fig. 8 illustrates the adaptation of the universal adjustable jig to a duplicating machine. The lower body portion I provided with a plurality of its parallel tubular members I I and needles ID may be mounted upon a vertical shaft 32 provided with a sprocket 33, the end of the shaft being mounted in a suitable bearing 34. The sprocket 33 may be driven as by means of a chain 35 and a source of power not shown, the chain 35 also engaging a sprocket 36 carried by shaft 37 on which is mounted the table 38. The table 38 may carry a dummy or moclrup 40, whose contours are to be duplicated in the sheet of material 20 carried by the jig. The lower surface of the sheet of material 29' is supported by the holding needles I0. Each of the lower holding needles I9 is opposed by an upper holding needle I0 carried by the tubular member II' which in turn is mounted in the body portion I Each pair of opposing tubular members II and II is conm nected to a common conduit 2l, 2I' and the like, each conduit being provided with a separate valve 28. The upper body portion I may be supported by a ram 4I so that the body portion I may be lowered and at the same time revolve if urged to do so by the rotation of the body portion I. After the sheet'material 20 is rmly held between the opposing needles of the jig, the sheet 20 may have its edge portions routed, ground, milled, trimmed. or otherwise worked upon by a tool 42. The tool 42 is actuated by a parallel motion generally indicated at 43 which in turn is actuated by an index member 44 caused to travel over the desired congurations of the dummy 40. The object 40 need not be cylindrical about its vertical axis. Various conduits 21, 2l and the like are preferably made of exible material so that the entire jig assembly including the object 29' may be rotated slightly more than one revolution at a time` thereby permitting an entire edge area of the object 2D to be worked on.

The form of device shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 1l is particularly adapted for usein holding an object of irregular shape for drill press and milling operations. In this modification, the hollow body portion 45 is provided with a plurality of tubular members 46, 41, 48 and the like, such tubular members being in communication with the chamber within the body portion 45. Means for supplying fluid to such chamber are provided (but not shown). Any suitable form of obturating means for discontinuing communication of the tubular members with the body portion 45 may be supplied, the form illustrated including the spider 49 provided with the valves 50, 5I and the like. The spider 49 is selectively movable by means of the actuating handle 52.

A plurality of parallel axially movable needles such as 53 are adapted to support the object 54. `Other needles such as 53-may be provided with horizontally extending contact points B, the contact points 56 being adjustable in a horizontal direction as-by means of a wing n'ut 51,. The contact point 56A may extend through a block 58 carried bythe needle 53. s

The object 54 may be held by means of arms-60 carried by vertically extending holders El the lower ends of such holders 6| being provided with pistons 62 slidable in upstanding tubes l63. The various tubes B3 in which the holders El are slidably positioned may be connected as by upper and lower conduits 64 and B5 respectively with a mastercylinder 86 provided with a piston 6l carn ried by the lower end of a rod 68having a handle 69. A sleeve 10 provided witha vertically extending slot 'Il adapted to slidably receive the handle 69 and `horizontally extending slots 12, 13 and the like, is mounted upon the upper end of the master cylinder 66. It *will'be' seen that by moving the handle 69 into the slot 'H and depressing the handle downward, movement of the piston 6l' is obtainecLthis causing liquid to move from the master cylinder through conduit 55 into the lower portion of each. of. the tubular members 63, thereby raising the holding rods 6I. Upward movement of the piston 61 within the master cylinder 66 will cause the various holding rods 6| to. move downwardly so as to bring the arms 60 into firm pressure contact with the upper surface of the object 54. When the handle 64 has been raised to the maximum position under the circumstances, it is moved horizontally inte one of the horizontal slots such as 'l2 and 13 thereby loeating the holding iingers in position.

The tubular member 46 is shown provided with a vertically movable needle provided with a horizontal arm 16 carried by a clamp `Tl. The needle 15 may also carry a quadrant I8 provided with a slot 19 terminating in enlarged portions 8U and 8| The arm 16 may be used for centering and locating bushings and the like and is located in position in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a pin, best shown in Fig. l1. The pin is provided with an enlarged head 82 adapted to t into the enlarged portions 80 and 8l of the quadrant. The pin also includes a narrow shank 83 extending through a bore in the arm 116. When the pin is lifted, the narrow shank 83 may be caused to travel through the narrow arcuate slot 19 thereby permitting the arm 1B to be moved into or out of position above the work 54.

A plurality of parallel, individually adjustable holding lingers may also be embodied in other forms of devices such as clamps and will be found to be particularly useful when irregularly contoured, small objects need be handled. In many instances the use of a plastic or soft metal sheet for an irregularly surfaced object can be dispensed with.

For example, in Fig. 12 a C-clamp is shown, this C-clamp including a semicircular member 85 extending through an arcuate slot formed in a tool block holder 86. The position of the arcuate member 85 in the tool holder 86 may be manually adjusted and then locked in position as by means of the set screw 81. Opposing ends of the arcuate member 85 are provided with internally threaded bosses 88 and 89 adapted to receive the bolts 90 and 9| respectively. The outer end of each of the bolts may be provided with a hand wheel or knurled knob 92. The inner end of each of the bolt 90 and 9| may be rotatably connected to a body member. Since the body members are substantially identical the description will be limited to the body member 93 which is rotatably associated `with the inner end of the bolt 90. This body member 93may be provided with a plurality of parallel, internally threaded bores, each of said bores being provided with an externally threaded needle 94 provided with a Vlock nut 95. These virtually parallel holding needles are adjusted as to lengthby manipulation of the lock nuts so that their tips contact with the surface of the object 96. The entire body member '93 may then be moved toward and'away from the object by actuating the knob 92 so that the `C-clamp once set may be rapidly employed in handling objects having a similar contour.

Those skilled in the art willv appreciate that numerous changes, modiiications and adaptations may be made without departing from the general teachings of this invention. The holding jigs and devices described herein may be used instead of the permanentjigs, dies and forms heretofore employed. The universal jig may be made a part of a machine, bench or drill vice. Several separate pieces or parts may be held in proper relation to each other so as to permit them to be joined, welded or otherwise connected or worked upon. By referring to Fig. 1 it will be readily apparent that the jig composed of body portions I and I', may hold one part and the jig composed of body portions 2 and 2', may hold another part, these parts being then worked upon within the space between such jigs. Various die or core spotting fixtures, contour gauges, bushing holders,

hold down or trim forms, etc. may be embodied in the clamping jigs of this invention. The adjustable character of the jigs obviates the necessity of expensive machining and preparation of a sep arate jig for each article or object upon which work is to be done. The invention is not limited to the specic forms illustrated and described herein and contemplates all changes and modications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a pair of opposing body portions, each body portion being provided with a plurality of substantially parallel holding needles extending therefrom, the holding needles of one body portion being in virtual axial alignment with the holding needles of the other body portion, means for adjustably positioning each of the holding needles axially thereof, means for moving one of said body portions toward and away from the other, whereby objects of varying contour may be securely held between the ends of opposing needles and means for rotating both of the body portions whereby objects held between the ends of the needles may be rotated to present diierent edge portions of the objects.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a pair of opposing body portions, each body portion being provided with a plurality oi substantially parallel tubular members extending from the body portion; a holding needle slidable in each of the tubular members, the holding needles of one body `portion being in virtual axial alignment with the holding needles of the other body portion, a conduit connecting each pair of opposing tubular members, a liquid in each conduit and valve means in each conduit whereby an adjusting movement imparted to one needle of a pair will be translated into a corresponding but opposing adjustment of the opposing needle of such pair.

3. In a clamping device a hydraulic ram, a hydraulic supply line thereto, a hollow body portion mounted on said hydraulic ram, a plurality of tubular members extending from the body portion, a holding needle in each tubular member, a common reservoir of iluid for all said tubular members independent of said hydraulic line, individual valves in operative relation to each tubular member adapted to retain a predetermined amount of fluid in the tubular member and a valve shut-off member common to all said valves.

4. In a clamping device a hydraulic ram, a hollow body portion on the ram, a plurality of tubular members extending from the body portion, a holding needle in each tubular member, the needles being spaced from each other, a common reservoir of fluid for all said tubular members, supply lines from the reservoir to the tubular members and an independent supply of uid for the hydraulic ram, individual valves mounted in each tubular member and in the supply line therefor adapted to retain a predetermined amount of uid in the tubular member and a valve actuating means for said valves mounted in the ram.

5. In a clamping device a. pair of opposing hydraulic rams, each of said rams being provided with a hollow body portion; a needle holding member carried by each hollow body portion; a plurality of spaced, parallel, axially movable, hydraulic, holding needles in each needle holding member, the needles of one member being in opposing relation to the needles of the other member; a conduit for hydraulic fluid connecting the hollow body portions of said opposing arms; valve means in each hollow body portion, said valve means cooperating with the needle holding member to retain a predetermined amount of fluid in each needle; and means for actuating the valve means in each hollow body portion.

IRVING L. PRESSMAN. 

